Automatic coin-operated lock.



D. W. CORBET.

AUTOMATIC COIN OPI-:RATED LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. 1910- RENEWED MAR. 2.19I2. 1,154,381..

' Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

` W//VESSES U. M f M27 D. W. CORBET.

AUTOMATIC COIN OPERATED LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOVI I2. I9I0 RENEWED MAR. 2. I9I2.

1,154,381. Patented S6111. 21, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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vDnNYs W. oonBE'r, or NEW Yjo'nK, yY., AssIGNon, BY MnsNn ASSIGNMENTS, To

AUTOSALES GUM .AND

TIoN or NEW YORK.

Gnocca/.Asn e'oMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- AUTOMAFIC .COIN-OPERATED LOCK.

specification of LettersY Patent.

Patented sept. 21, i915.

Application fned November "12, 191e Serial No. 591,971. Renewed March 2, 1912. semaine. 681,251.

To all whom it may 'concern o Be it known that I, DENYSHW. Conner, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, and a resident of the lborough 'of Brooklyn, county or Kings,7 city Aand State of New York, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Automatic CoinlGperated Lock, set forth in the following speciic tion. e

This invention relates to a'fcoincont -ll'ed lock for a receptacle adapted to contain a single package which vis to be vnded automatically upon the insertion f the proper coin.

An object of the present invention is to eiect the automaticV lunl'o'ckirfig 'of su'ch a vending receptacle by the ymere insertion of the Vproper coin into an appropriate slot or opening and entirely without the ni'aniial manipulation of any knob, slide or partV other than the actual coin inserted. y

A further object of thejinventionisto retain the inserted coin'within the locking mechanism and to prevent its unauthorized removal. n

A San fun-.hei- Objea ,of the invention is to provide'for the,` vremoval. of Atheinserted coin from the locking mechanism and the contemporaneous restoration of they `parts rto their normal positions ,ina manner necessitating the use of a key and special manipulation. y K

In addition a general object of tiled-n'- vention aims Ito simplify coiIL .Controlled locks for vending receptacles of the class described.

To the above ends a ylocking latch bolt is provided for holding the openable part of the receptacle locked closed; Va coin slot; a spring operated coin carriery in coperative relation with said coin slot; a latch mechanism tor releasing the coin carrier upon the insertion of the proper coin;l and measuringmeans permitting the spring operated travel of the coin carrier iipon the insertion of the proper co'inuonly; meansor closing the coin slot after the insertion of the proper coin; means for locking the coin carrier against movement to discharge the yinserted coin and-to lock lthe closure for the co-in slot in closed position; and provisions for retaining the locking latch bolt `or bolts in retracted position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide substantially a combinationlock,

the correct manipulation of which is neces- Y sary to accomplish the removal of a coin,

to the end that an unauthorized person merely provided with the proper unlocking key will be unable to remove an inserted coin unless he is familiar with the further necessary manipulation.

"The above and further objects of the invention will Vbe set forth lmore fully in the f accompanying claims and will be understood from the following specification which yshould be read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings which form a part or this application,` in which like characters designate corresponding parts and in which,-

Figureprl is a front elevation of a dispensing receptacle with parts broken away ,others in section, itted with the invention 5l Fig. 2 is a vertical section through line Il-II of Fig. lgfFig. 8 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. l; Fig. e is a vertical front y 'elevation corresponding'to Fig. 1 but with the outer face of the receptacle removed and showing merely the locking parts about to be operated upon by a coin; Fig. 5 is a view ksimilar to that .otFig e but with parts `broken away and showing the relative positions of the parts assumed immediately upon the insertion of the coin; Fig. 6 is also a view similar to Fig. e showing the position .of the parts assumed immediately after the slide into the channel 3 formed along the two side edges and bottom edge of a sheet metal back plate l, which may be secured to the back of a theater chair or other support in a well known manner. rl`he stamping-2 may be releasably secured to the back plate 4: by the lock and key 65, 66. The top of the receptacle l is provided with the openable lid 5 secured by the hinge 6 along its rear edge to the metal stamping 2 and provided with a downward projection 7 cooperating with a tongue 3 formed by vertically slitting the back plate 4 to form a spring tongue tending to open the lid 5. The lid 5 is closed and locked over the mouth of the receptacle 1 when charged with a package, such as 9, to be vended. A spring 10 at the bottom of the receptacle 1 may serve normally to press the package 9 upward to cause it to project out of the receptacle 1 upon the unlocking and opening of lid 5. Although this receptacle 1 has been described in detail, it is to be understood that the automatic locking mechanism is useful in connection with the closure for any suitable dispensing receptacle.

The lid 5 is provided with dependent locking ears 11 and 12' over which thepivoted locking latch bolts 13 and 14 are pressed into locking engagement by their respective springs 15 and 16 upon the closing o1" the lid 5.

1n the embodiment illustrated the locking latch bolts 13 and 14 form a part of the locking mechanism which is assembled within the box-like casing 16 which itselfrl forms a closure for the parts at the rear of Fig. 1 and about the four edges but is open at the front and as shown in Fig. 4. A front closure. for this box may be formed in any suitable manner. In the embodiment illustrated the front plate of the stamping 2 forms this closure inasmuch as the box 16 is secured to the inner side of the front plate by rivets or screws 17. The construction is suchy that the entire locking mechanism may be completely assembled within the open faced box 1,6 before attachment to the Wall of the receptacle 1.

The upper edge closure 18 of the box 16 is provided with a coin slot 19 alined with a coin slot 20 in the lid 5 when the lid'is closed. This coin slot may be made of a sizev to prevent the passage therethrough of a coin larger than the proper one, such as 21,' and its edge 22 forms a cooperating part in the locking mechanism as will presently be described. y j

A coin carrier 23 is provided for conveying the coin 21 away from the slot 19 and in this embodiment comprises va disk of sheet metal pivoted at its center to the stud 24 secured to the back of the box 16. This disk 23 is provided with a coin pocket 25 of a size just suicient to permit the entrance of the proper coin 21 and is arranged normally to lie in a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. 4 so that its shoulder 26 slightly projects across the coin slot 19 while the disk 23 is of a vthickness corresponding to that of the proper coin and lies in the same plane as slot 19. The disk 23 is given a tendency to rotate in a counterclockwise direction which, in this embodiment, is accomplished by means of "the spring 27 pressing the pivoted cam 28 against the cam roller 29 pivoted to the face of the disk 23.

Then the parts are as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 the pivoted hook latch 30 prevents the counter-clockwise rotation of the disk 23 by hooking over the lip 31 formed at the periphery of the disk 23. The latch 30 is normally pressed toward the disk 23 bythe spring 32.

The disk 23 is also provided with a cam 33 for coperating with the downward proyjection or cam follower part 34 of the locking latch bolt 14. The portion of the periphery of the disk 23 lying between the fol lower part 34 and the cam 33 is circular and is indicated by 35 while the diametrically oppositeportion 36 of the periphery is also circular. Occupying a clockwise displaced position from the shoulder 26 is a lip 37 'having ak generally circular contour but provided with linger engageable serrations 33 and an outstanding hip 39 at its end. This lip 37 serves as a closure for the coin slot 19 and the hip 39 as a stop, all as will presently be understood.

On the counter-clockwise side of the coin slot 19 is provided a fixed measuring barrier 40, the curved face of which clears the periphery of the disk 23 just a suflicient lamount to permit the passage there-across of the projecting edge 41 of a coin of proper size, it beingl understood that the radial depth of the coin pocket 25 is insuiicient to contain the inserted coin completely within the peripherykof the disk 23 but causes it toeproject as shown in Fig. 6 so that its projecting edge 41 may operate as a cam to engage the heel 42 of the locking latch bolt 13. The disk 23 is also provided with a detent notch 43 for cooperating with the nose 44 of latch 30 to prevent clockwise movement of the disk 23, under certain conditions.

y Also centrally pivoted to the stud 24 is a mutilatedy disk 45, overlying the disk 23, permitted only a limited rotation about the stud 24 relatively to the disk 23, but otherwise free to rotate with the disk 23. @ne

side of the disk is cut away to form the sector-like opening 46 which permits suitable play for the cam roller 29 and the cam 28 without interference with this overlying disk 45. The remainder of the periphery of this disk 45 is shown circular and concentric thickness of the disk 23 and, with the parts l inr normal position, occupies a position within the coin pocket 25 slightly to the left that is, toward the counter-clockwise direction from a line drawn through the stud 24 and ythe center of the coin slot 19.

An escape passage 49 is cut outof the disk 23 and opens into the coin pocket 25,- as shown best in Figf. It is arranged so as to permit the entrance of the pin 48 for a purpose presently to be described.

The disk 45 is also provided with notches 50 to provide for the operative engagement of a key, such as key 51, with the disk 45 to shift or retract it into position to discharge the coin 21 and to effect other movements of the disk 45 for purposes presently to be described. Of course these notches 50 should conform to the key employedor be substituted by any well known formation for key engagement. p

Operation: Fig. 4 shows all the parts in normal vposition in which 'case the locking latch bolts 13 and 14 are in projected position to engage the locking ears 11 and 12 of a part such as the lid 5 to be locked closed.

The person desiring to remove the package 9 from the receptacle l inserts the proper coin 21 in the opening or slot 20 in the lid 5, pressing it down through the slot 19 which may be of an exact size to pass no larger coin than the proper one. Opposite portions of the edge of the coin engage respectively the edge 22 of slot 19 and the opposite shoulder 26 at the entrance of the coin pocket 25. Inward pressure upon the coin causes the coin to act as a wedge against the shoulder 26 to rotate the disk 23 clockwise into'the position shown in Fig. 5. This rotation carries the lip 31 clear of the hooked end of latch 30. Continued inward pressure upon the coin thereupon causes the coin to engage the pin 48 and the wedging action takes place between the shoulder 26 and this pin 48 to eii'ect a counter-clockwise rotation of super-posed disk 45 relatively to disk 23 so that the cam-like edge on disk 45 wedges out the hooked end 44 of latch 30, the pin 48 passing intoV slot 49 and the latch 30 being rotated into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and held clear of the lip-31. At this stage of the operation the coin 21 has become completely seated within the pocket 25 so Vas to clear the top wall 18 through which the coin slot 19 is formed. If the coin is of the proper diameter it linst clears the barrier 40 and the two disks 23 and 45 rotate counter-cloclnvise with a quick snap-like action in response to the spring pressed cam 28 operating upon roller 29, which roller at the start of the operation described has served as a stop cooperating with the shoulder 54 of disk 45 to limit the clockwise position of pin 48 within the coin pocket 25. This counterclockwise rotation carries the parts into the positions illustrated in Fig. 6, the position of this pin 48 being such that, by engaging the coin 21, it holds the disk 45 relatively to the disk T3 so that the two detent notches 43 and 4T are alined or super-posed to permit the noser 44 of the latch 30 to kspring and catch therein. The noser44 cannot spring into either of these detent notches separately because of the fact that it is of a thickness suiiicient normally to engage the peripheries of both the disks 23 and 45. The disk 23 is checked in its counter-clockwise rotation by the hip 39 engaging against the inside face of the wall 18, while the engagement of the latch 30 in the detent notch 43 locks the disk 23 against clockwise rotation. At the saine time the latch 30 locks the disk 45 against a clockwise rotation Vbut not against counter-clockwise rotation, a limited amount of which isy permitted, according to the depth of the slot 49. The dotted lines in Fig. 6 show that the pin 48 may move counter-clockwise until it reaches the eX- tremity of the slot 49.

The movement of the parts into the positions shown in Fig. (i causes the projecting edge 41 of the coin 21 to engage the heel 42 of the pivoted locking bolt 13 to move it into unlocking position so as to disengage the ear 11.' At `thesame time they cam 33 operates upon the follower part34 of locking bolt 14 to move it into unlocking position in a similar manner. the coin 21 to unlock thebolt 13 is obviously that of a cam or striker required to be of deiinite dimensions to effect the complete throwing ofthe bolt into unlocking posi` tion although there is no structural limitation in the lock described necessitating that the coin 21 actually engage a part directly to release the bolt 13. The illustration of the cam 33 shows an embodiment in which the actual operating member is a permanent part of the mechanism instead of being the coin itself and obviously either one or the other of the locking bolts 13 and 14 could be used solely for locking the lid closed or a'V plurality of bolts like 14, operated each by a cam 33 suitably located might ybe employed, this alteration requiring nothing but mere duplication of parts.

It should be noted that the coin 21 has now been conveyed away from the coin slot 19 and that the coin slot 19 has been completely closed bythe projecting lip 37 provided with the serrations 38. At the same time the coin is retained entirely within the locking mechanism, doing away with the necessity of a separate coin compartment. To restore the lock to normal condition and to effect the removal of the coin 21 a key such as the key 51 may be insertedthrough a suitable opening in the receptacle 1, which opening is indicated by 57 and may be of the contour illustrated to give the false impression that a key provided with a tongue is the kind necessary for removing the coin. The key 51 is `first rotated counter-clockwise and its engagement withthe disk 45 causes corresponding counterclockwise rotation of The operation of Y this disk 45to Wedge out the nose of the latch 30 into the position shown in Fig. 7. This counter-clockwise rotation is limited by the movement of the pin 48 in the slot 9 or by the nose 53 engaging the cam 28. The disk l5 is so loosely pivoted that the moment the key 51is removed or if a counter-clockwise vturning moment is not ap-v plied to the key 51 the force of the spring will cause the nose L14 of latch 30 to engage the curved shoulder 58 with sufficient force to retract the disk l5 into the position shown in Fig. 6 causing a relooking of both disks by the latch 30. Therefore, While the disk l5 is held. by the key in the position shown in Fig. 7 a finger 59 should engage the serrated portion 38 of the disk 234 and exert a' force in the direction of the arrow (applied to the finger), which will cause the shoulder GO to engage the nose of latch 30 and hold it in the positionillustrated in Fig. 7. The key 5l is then given a clockwise rotation rwhich carries the shoulder 61V of disk Ll5 and then theiperiphery of disk l5 under the nose' of the latch 30 to hold it positively intheposition illustrated rlhe pin aS-engages the coin 21 and the continued clockwise rotation of disk l5 imparts a continued clockwise rotation to the coin carrier or disk 23 until the coin pocket 25 has been moved into the position shown in Fig. 5. When in this position thev coin slot 19 is directly in line With the mouth of the` coin pocket 25 and the force of the pin 4:8 directed against the edge of the coin 21 tends to Wedge it out of the coin pocket into the slot 19. The shoulder 2G also coperates in this Wedging action so that the coin is wedged out through the slot 19 into the position shown in Fig. 5 Where it is easily grasped in the lingers and removed. Too great a clockwise movement of the disk 23 is prevented by the` rear edge 62 of cam 33, the path of which for such rotation Would carry it against the nose of latch 30. Upon the Withdrawal of the coin 21 the cam 28 causes the counter-clockwise rotation of disk 23 into the position shown in Fig. 4 causing the hooked nose of latch 30 .to hook over the projection 31, locking thedisk 23 against operative rotation until another suitable coin has been inserted.

lt will, of course, be understood that applicants novel featureof returning the deposited coin or check through the coinentrance slot of the lock, may be mechanically carried out in other Ways than that herein shown and described by Way` of illustration. In the broad aspect of my invention as regards this particular feature, as brought out in certain of the appended claims, the form and manipulation of the means for discharging the coin out of its seat in the coin-carrier through the coinentrance slot may be modified or altered Without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in those claims.

The hook formation of the latch 30 in its cooperation with the lip 31 plays an important function in preventing the unauthorized releasing of the coin carrier 23, the release of which is effective in unlocking the locking bolts 13 and l-l. Should a tool, such as a knifeblade, be inserted through the coin slot 19 and force applied thereby to the pin 4S tending to cause a counter-clockwise rotation of the disk 45, the nose 53 of disk l5 would engage the hooked end la of latch 30. This nose 53 would tend to rotate the latch 30 aivay fromV the disk 23, but the end of the nose lil hooked over the lip 31 effectively locks the latchv 30 against release, which would not be the case if the latch 30 would not hook over a suitable part fiXed to or on the Ydisk 23, such as the lip 31.

Although the embodiment of the invention illustrated shoivs a coin carrier 23 hav ing a rotary movement, the coin pocket 25 therein causes the coin to slide from one position to another and it is Well contemplated by the applicant that many features of the applicants invention are not limited in their embodiment to a lock mechanism comprising a rotatable disk for the coin cap rier or a rotatable disk for locking purposes. However, the embodiment illustrated and described serves its purpose of illustrating a satisfactory embodiment of the features of the invention.

That is claimed and what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a coin-operated lock, the combination With a movable locking bolt, of a rotatable coin-carrier for receiving the coin through a suitable entrance opening; means for rotating the coin carrier to convey the coin away from said opening and to effect the movement of said bolt into unlocking position; latching means for locking the coin carrier in operated position to prevent the withdrawal of the coin; and key actuated means for releasing said latohing means to permit rotation of said coin-carrier back to normal position to carry the coin back into said coin-entrance opening for ready removal.

2. In a coin-operated lock, a casing; a rotatable coin carrier having a coin pocket; means Wholly within said casing for rotating said carrier to convey said coin pocket into closed position within said casing; means adapted to engage said coin-carrier for locking said coin pocket in said closed position; a lockingbolt for a receptacle closure; means actuated by the movement of said coin carrier for moving said bolt into unlocking position; and means for unlocking said coin carrier to permit the retraction of the parts.

3. In a coin-actuated lock, one or more bolts normally in locking position; a Wall providing a coin slot; bolt actuating. mechanism having spring means tending to cause movement to unlock each of said bolts; latch mechanism holding said bolt actuating mechanism against unlocking movement; and means operated by the insertion of the proper coin through said slot to release said latch mechanism to cause the automatic unlocking of said bolts Wit-hout other manual manipulation.

4. In a coin-actuated lock, a Wall providing a coin slot; movable means for automatically conveying the Y proper coin nserted through said slot away` from said slot; means for closing said coin slot; and bolt releasing mechanism automatically operated in response to the insertion in 'said coin slot of the proper coin Without the manual manipulation of other parts.

5. In a coin-operated lock, a closure; spring actuated means releasable upon the insertion ot the proper coin and automatically movable when released to secure said coin Within the lock; and locking means for said closure automatically unlocked by said spring actuated means by reason of the said movement thereof.

6. In a coin-operated lock, a casing provided With a coin-entrance slot, a coin-carrier mounted Within said casing and having a coin-pocket, means Wholly Within said casing for moving said coin-carrier in one direction to secure a deposited coin Within said lock, said coin-carrier being movable in the opposite direction to discharge the coin through said slot, and mechanism for effecting the discharge of the coin through said slot, said mechanism requiring the joint actuation of a key and a finger manipulation of said coin-carrier.

7. In a coin-operated lock, a coin carrier comprising a centrally pivoted disk having a coin pocket open at the periphery of said disk; spring means tending to rotate said coin carrier; a latch operating to hold said coin carrier against rotation; a rotatable part having a pin projecting into said coinY pocket and operative to release said latch upon the entrance of the proper coin into said coin pocket to Wedge over the said pin; and bolt releasing means operated by the rotation of said coin carrier.

8. In a coin-operated lock, a closure; spring actuated means releasable upon the insertion of the proper coin and automatically movable When released to secure said coin Within the lock; and locking means for said closure automatically unlocked by said coin upon the said movement of said spring actuated means.

9. In a coin-operated lock, a closure; a spring actuated rotatable means adapted to be released upon the insertion of the proper coin and' automatically movable when released to carry said coin Within the lock; and locking means for said yclosure autovmatically unlocked by said rotatable means during the said movement thereof.

l0. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a locking member, coin-controlled mechanism for controlling the operation of said member, said mechanism having a pair of elements disposed in the path of the entering coin and adapted to be actu ated thereby, and means for actuating said mechanism after action of the coin upon said elements.

1l. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a rotatable coin-carrier adapted to receive the coin or check inserted through said slot, manually operable means whereby the coin or check in said carrier is discharged from the lock through said coin-entrance slot, and means independent of said discharging means for operating said coin-carrier to carry the deposited coin into operative position in the lock.

12. In a coin-operated lock having a coinontrance slot, a rotatable member arranged in proximity to said slot and having a portion adapted to engage the entering coin, so that the forcing of the coin into the slot rotatessaid member, a locking device, and means. controlled by said rotatable member for controlling the operation vof said lockingdevice.

13.7In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a locking member, a pair of movable members adapted to be simultaneously engaged by the entering coin and moved relatively to each other, means Within the lock for automatically actuating said coin-connected members to operate said locking member; said members retaining the deposited coin in operated position, and means to cause reverse operation of said members for discharging the coin through said slot.

14. In a coin-operated lock having a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, a rotatable coin-carrier mounted Within said casing and adapted to secure the deposited coin Within the lock, and means whereby said coin-carrier is rotatable Within said casing to discharge the coin through said coin-entrance slot.

15. In a coin-controlled lock having coin-entrance slot, a pair of concentric disks movable relatively to each other, a device for normally locking said disks, coperating means on said disks adapted to be engaged by the entering coin to cause release of said locking device, and spring-actuated mechanism adapted to automatically operate the coin-released disks.

16. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a rotatable coin-carrier adapted to secure the deposited coin Within said lock by movement in one direction, and

means whereby said coin-carrier is rotatable in the reverse direction to discharge the coin through said coin-entrance slot.

17. In a coin-operated lock having a casing provided with a coin-entrance slot, a locking member, a normally locked coincarrier, mounted wholly within said casing, means whereby said coin-carrier is released for operation by the mere insertion of the coin, spring mechanism within said casing for automatically actuating the released coin-carrier to operate said locking meinber, and means for retaining the coin on said carrier after opera-tion thereof.

18. In a` coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a pair of relatively movable members, means for normally locking said members against operation, cooperating means on said members adapted to be engaged by the entering coin to cause release of said locking means, and mechanism for actuating the coin-released members, said members retaining the deposited Coin in their operated position.

19. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a latch device normally held in locking position, mechanism normally held locked against movement by said latch device and adapted to retain the same in locking engagement therewith, said mechanism being adapted to be operated through the medium of the coin to release said latch device for movement into unlocking position, means for moving the released latch device into unlockingposition, and `means for actuating the released mechanism.

l 20. In a coin-operated lock, a casing having a coin-entrance slot, a rotatable disk provided with a coin-receiving slot or recess, means manually operable from the outside of said casing for moving the coin out of said coin-receiving slot or recess to discharge the same through said coin-entrance slot, and means independent of said discharging means for operating said disk to carry the deposited coin into operative position in the lock.

21. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a normally locked coin-carrier,

means for releasing said coin-carrier through the medium of the deposited coin, mechanism for actuating the released coincarrier, means for locking said coin-carrier in operated position to retain the coin, keycontrolled means to release the coin-carrier in its operated position, and means on said coin-carrier adapted to project out of said coin-slot when the carrier is in operated position to permit finger manipulation of the released coin-carrier for discharging the coin through said slot.

22. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a member adapted to receive the deposited coin and carry the same away from said slot, means for actuating y said member, and means on said member adapted to project out of the coin-entrance slot when the member is in operated position to permit finger manipulation of said member to discharge the deposited coin through said slot.

23. In a coin-operated lock having a coinentrance slot, a rotatable disk provided with a coin-receiving slot or recess, a member adapted to be moved upwardly through said 'coin-receiving slot or recess to engage the deposited coin and push the same upwardly through said coin-entrance slot, and means independent of said member for operating said disk to carry the coin into operative position in the lock.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specilication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DENYS IV. GORBET.

Vitnesses SIDNEY NnwoY, L. ALTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

